Study Program

In view of the demographic challenge of an ageing population, researchers who will significantly advance scientific progress in the ageing field are of high importance. Therefore, the aim of ProMoAge is to provide conditions that allow the participating and associated PhD/MD candidates to develop into competent young scientists who will prospectively address topics of molecular age research in academia or industry in a collaborative manner. The ProMoAge programme follows a high-quality interdisciplinary and scientific approach on different aspects of ageing research with a focus on the role of long-lasting protein modifications as key mechanisms. The programme contains a lecture series “Research into Ageing”, which will provide specific insights into PTMs and their functional consequences but will also cover other molecular as well as translational and social aspects of ageing. In addition, ProMoAge will offer state-of-the-art methodological platforms with respect to model systems, special microscopy techniques, proteomics and clinical cohorts. Mentoring/supervision modules will complement the qualification programme.

The ProMoAge training programme consists of mandatory (80%) and elective modules (20%) as in the figure shown below. Mandatory modules comprise ProMoAge-specific modules (workshops including the lecture series, summer schools and retreats), activities in the individual research groups (progress reports, literature seminars) and courses in good scientific practice, biostatistics and transferable skills.These modules will be supplemented with elective modules based on individual interests and needs. Elective modules involve lecture series of local graduate schools, guest lectures of interest, transferable skill courses presented by local graduate academies, as well as method courses on demand offered by ProMoAge groups. Two training coordinators (designated: R. Horstkorte, Halle, head of the doctoral board of the medical faculty, and R. Heller, Jena, coordinator of the JSMM and the graduate programme of the Interdisciplinary Centre of Clinical Research, IZKF) will be responsible for the programme and coordinate the activities of doctoral researchers. The annual study programme of every PhD fellow will correspond to an overall work load of 210 hours (7 ECTS credit points). MD candidates will participate in the qualification programme for one year – the expected duration of their experimental work.